174 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



returning to the S. E. ; this last reach not appearing to be 

 more than three or four miles, but entirely filled with rocks, 

 and absolutely, as far as we could judge with our glasses, 

 without the smallest passage or carrying place for a canoe. 

 At noon we reached banza Inga, having turned off to the 

 west considerably from the river, and found it situated on one 

 of the usual plateaus. The Chenoo, we learned, was blind, 

 and that the government was in a kind of commission, com- 

 posed of the Macaya, Mam bom, &c. which portended me 

 no good ; a palaver being immediately assembled to know 

 what white men came here for. I now found it would be 

 necessary to deviate from my former assertions of having 

 nothing to do with trade, if I meant to get forward ; and 

 according!}' I gave these gentlemen to understand, that I 

 was only the fore-runner of other white men, who would 

 bring them every thing they required, provided I should 

 make a favourable report of their conduct on my return to 

 my own country. At length I was promised a guide to 

 conduct me to the place where the river again became 

 navigable for canoes, but on the express condition that I 

 should pay a jar of brandy, and dress four gentlemen with 

 two fathoms of baft each. These terms I complied with, 

 stipulating on my part that the guide should be furnished 

 immediately, (as this part of the river was said to be not 



